Javed Akhtar, a prominent figure in Indian cinema, is celebrated as a prolific poet, lyricist, and screenwriter. His contributions have significantly shaped Bollywood, earning him iconic status.

Wiki/Biography

Born on January 17, 1945, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, Javed Akhtar (age 79 as of 2024) is a Capricorn. His initial name, “Jadoo” (magic), stemmed from his father’s poem. The name Javed was chosen as a close approximation. His education included Colvin Taluqdars’ College, Lucknow, Minto Circle School, Aligarh, and Saifiya College, Bhopal, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Physical Appearance

• Height: 5′ 5″
• Eye Color: Dark Brown
• Hair Color: White

Family, Caste & Wife

Javed Akhtar hails from a Muslim family. His father, Jan Nisar Akhtar, was a renowned Bollywood songwriter and poet. His mother, Safia Akhtar, was a talented singer, songwriter, and writer. His family boasts a rich literary heritage, with his grandfather, Muztar Khairabadi, and elder brother, Bismil Khairabadi, being accomplished poets. His great-grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was a scholar and played a significant role in India’s 1857 independence movement. Javed has two brothers, Salman and Shahid, and two sisters, Uneza and Albina.

He was married to Honey Irani in 1972, with whom he has two children: Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. Their divorce in 1985 preceded his marriage to actress Shabana Azmi. He has two granddaughters, Shakiya and Akira.

Career

Javed Akhtar’s career began as a screenwriter alongside Salim Khan, starting with “Andaz” (1971). Their collaboration as “Javed-Salim” yielded numerous iconic films from 1971 to 1981, including “Zanjeer,” “Deewaar,” “Sholay,” “Don,” “Dostana,” and “Kranti.” Their partnership dissolved in 1982. He debuted as a solo screenwriter with “Betaab” (1983) and as a lyricist with “Silsila” (1981).

Controversies

Javed Akhtar has been involved in several controversies. One notable instance involved the film “PM Narendra Modi,” where his name appeared in the credits for lyrics, a claim he denied via Twitter. Another involved a legal notice to singer Amaal Malik and T-Series for insufficient credit on a song. He and Salim Khan also filed a complaint against the producers of the 2013 remake of “Zanjeer.” His comments on the Gurmehar Kaur controversy and the film “Padmaavat” also drew criticism. He filed a criminal complaint against Kangana Ranaut in 2021 following her alleged defamatory statements.

Awards & Honours

Javed Akhtar’s accomplishments have garnered numerous accolades:

Favourite Things

• Poem: Mera Safar by Sardar Ali Jafri
• Poet: Kaifi Azmi
• Actor: Dilip Kumar
• Songwriter: Sahir Ludhianvi
• Food: Kebab, Aloo Gosht Ka Shorba, Biryani, Vanilla Ice-Cream
• Sport: Cricket

Facts

Though born a Muslim, Javed Akhtar identifies as an atheist and raised his children, Farhan and Zoya, the same way. His early struggles in Mumbai included sleeping under trees before finding shelter at Kamal Amrohi Studio.

His partnership with Salim Khan began on the set of “Sarhadi Lootera,” evolving from clapper boy to dialogue writer. Salim provided ideas, while Javed wrote dialogues in Urdu, which were then translated. Even after their split in 1982, some of their scripts continued to be hugely successful.

His relationship with Shabana Azmi began during his visits to Kaifi Azmi’s house. His first film song as a lyricist was “Dekha Ek Khwab” from “Silsila”. He was a successful debater in college, winning the Rotary Club Prize for three consecutive years.

The “Zanjeer” script, co-written with Salim Khan, solidified Amitabh Bachchan’s “Angry Young Man” image.

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